Clasp



June 15 1926. 1,588,630

H. K. SMITH CLASP original Filed Dee. '16, 1922 Patented .lune 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES y i 1,588,630 PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT KEMI SMITH, or NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, assIGNon 'rb MERLE Powe SMITH, 0E NEW oRLEANs, LOUISIANA..

CLASP.

Application led December 1,6, 1922, Serial No. 607,381. Renewed November 3, 1925.

This invention relates to clasps adapted to be used in connection with watch fobs or as a fastening means for the end of key chains.

An object of the invention is the p rovision of a simple and eiiicient clasp which will grip a part of the clothing and be locked in such a reliable manner that the clasp will be safe against accidental or unf forced inwardly by ,theY spring tongue 9,

The tongue 9 has sutlicient resilience and authorized removal.

Other objects and advantages of the in! vent-ion will become apparent during the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, In which,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the clasp attached to a trouser band and used 1n connection with a watch fob.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of the clasp shown in Figure 1.

Figure Il is a viewvin perspective of a modified form of the claspadapted tov be used in connection with a key chain.

Figure 5 is a vertical sect-ion of the same.

Figure .6 lis a view in perspective ofthe clasp Shown in Figures 1 to 3, in open position'.

liteferring to the drawings, 1 designates a front plat-B which may be engraved in any suitable manner in order to display the owners monogram or some design of a fraternal or secret Society to which the owner may belong. Vhere desired, instead of the engraving, the design or monogram may be cut, in the face of the plate. materials employed may be of any typeof metal lsuitable for the purpose. The front pla-te is provided with a slot 2 at its lower end through which is threaded a fob 3. An ear- 4, projecting from a lower .corner of the front plate 1 is perforated to receive a chain 5 which carries a watch located in a pocket 6 of the trousers.

The front plate ,is bent rearwardly as shown at 7 and provided with a returned bent porti-on 3.` Projecting downwardly, and offset from the returned bent portion 8, is an integrally formed spring tongue l9 spaced from the front plate 1. The tongue 9 has considerably less width than the returned bent portion 8. The returned bent portion is .provided upon opposite sides .of

' the tongue 9 with bearings 10. 1 A pin V11 is The integrally formed on each of a pair of legs 13 and 14: of a clamping member 15,

The tongue 9 projectsbetween the legs rigidity to maintain the jaw 19, formed on the lower end of the cla'rping member, projectedV into the slot 2,

The clamping member is provided with an inwardly projecting resilient tongue 20 engaging the slot E20a formed by punching out a portion of the metal vof the locking plate 16 to provide the finger piece 26, The engagement ofthe end of the tong-ue within the slot 2Oa prevents movement of the locking plate 16 on its pivot 17 when the jaw 19 of the clamping member forces the trouserV band into the's'lot 2 of the front plate 1.

It will be noted that the vclasp is adapted to'engage either the trouser 'bandi 21 or a beltwhen locked in positionfto prevent loss of a watch. vThe clasp vshown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusiveis locked-upon a trouserk band andif it be-desired to remove the clasp it is only necessary to exert pressure' on the finger piece 26 whereby the resilient' tongue will be forced inwardly and awayY from the locking member 1.6 to permit the locking member to be oscillated and released gated slot 2 in the plate 1.

end 18 of said locking member is forced be- ,Y

neath the spring tongue 9 as the locking ffii) slot.

Figures 4 and 5 disclose a modication of' the clasp. llhis term ot clasp.' is provided with a front plate 1 adapted to be Vengraved or decorated in a manner similar to the i'ront plate oi: the clasp shown in Figure 1. A resilient tongue 9a and a clamping member 15a are provided, with the clamping member pivotally mounted on the returned bent portion 8 ofthe plate 1. v The toothed jaw 19 ci the clamp projects within the slot 2 of the front plate and is adapted to pinch or torce the part of the clothing so engaged, into said i tongue 2O is provided at Ythe rear of the clamping member` 15EL to engage the notch 2O@l oi the locking plate 161 andy adjacent the 'finger piece 26 which projects'beyond the plane ot the tongue 9a. The end of the tongue or spring member 9a is bevelled as shown at 22.V and adapted to engage the coniplementary bevelledportion 23 et the plate 16 whichvis pivotally connected at 17 to the clamping member 15a. The spring tongue 9a engaged with the locking platey 16 through the `bevelled portion oi the respective members, tends to force the locking plate` M" 16a inwardly while the tongue 2O presses outwardly against the locking plate whereby the locking plate is rigidly heldin place to preventaccidental movement of the clamping member 15a on its pivot pin 11a. The legs 18 and 14 of the clamping member 15EL are provided with journals 27 which are mounted on the pins 11. rlhe pin 1la is rigidly securedto the back of the resilient tongue 9a.

At the extreme end and centrally of theV lower edge of the plate 1 is formed an ear 24 provided with a perforation 2544 which 1s adapted to receive one end ot a chain which is provided with a key ring at its other end.

rl'fhe operation of the modified form of clasp shown in Figures 4 and 5 1s as follows: Pressure upon the linger piece 26 moves the `resilient tongue 2O inwardly. while the bevelled .edge or the locking plate 16a is moved suiliciently away trom the bevelled end oit the tongue 9Ei to permit the locking plate to be swung onY its pivot 17 and moved out ot engagement with the end of the tongue 9%. rlhe clamping member 15d is lnow free to be moved on its pivot and to be swungout- .wardly away irom the plate 1 to release the clasp from the trouser band or from a belt.

It must be borne in mind that the clasp is adapted to be suitably attached to either the band of a pair of trousers or a belt and .of the clasp projects into `the slot 2 and the belt is inserted and slidable inthe space be* tween the pivoted clamping member 15 and the front plate 1 as shown more particularly in dotted lines in Figure 4. l

Nhat I claim is: l

1. A clasp comprising a'iront plate provided with a returned bent portion spaced from the upper end ot said plate and a transverse slot at its lower end, a clamping member having legs pivotally mounted von the returned bent` portion, a resilient tongue projecting from the returned bent portion between the legs ot the clamping member, a locking plate pivotally mounted on the clamping member and having its tree end engaged by the free end of the resilient tongue, a jaw on the lower end of the clamping member adapted to be maintained within the slot of the front plate by the action ot the resilient tongue on the clampingY meniber, the locking plate Ybeing provided with a notch, and a ltongue on the clamping meniber engaging the notch in the locking plate to prevent disengagement ot tlie locking `plate from the resilient tongue to prevent accidental or unauthorizedv removal of the clasp. v w

2. A clasp comprisinga front plate having icc an integrally Vformed spring member spaced from the front plate and a slot located ad.

otally mounted on the rear face of and at one end ot the front plate, and provided with a jaw adapted to be maintained in the slot and means pivoted Von the jaw and engageable with the springv for causing the spring .to maintain thejaw in an operative position within the slot.

3.151 clasp comprising a front plate having an integrally formed spring member spaced 'from the 'front plate and a slot located adjacent its lower end, a clamping member pivotally mounted on the rear face ot tliefront plate, and provided with a jaw adapted to be'maintained in the slot, and means cooperating with the Vjaw and spring for causing said spring to maintain the jaw in position in the slot, and meansfor locking the clamping member against accidental movement.V

4. A clasp comprising a front plate having an integrally formed spring member spaced trom'the front plate and a slot lo? cated adjacent its lower end, a clamping member pivotally mounted'on the rear face of the iront plate, and provided with a jaw adapted to project into the slot, locking member engageable with the spring member for maintaining the jaw projected into the slot, said clamping member having a portion -bent inwardly towards the locking means and engageable with said means to prevent accidental movement of the locking means.

5. A clasp comprising a front plate having a tongue integrally formed with Said plate spaced from the rear face of the front plate, a clamping member provided with legs pivotally connected on opposite sides of the tongue where the tongue is integrally connected with the front plate, said tongue being offset from the plane of the clamping member, a jaw provided on the lower end of the clamping member adapted to engage a. piece of clothing and pinch the same against the rear face of the front plate, a plate pivotally mounted on the clamping member and engaged by the free end of the tongue, said plate provided with a notch at its i'ree end, a tongue projecting from the clamping member adapted to, project into the notch in the plate for locking the plate against movement to maintain the jaw vin engagement with the clothing, and a finger piece projecting outwardly from the plate adjacent the notch and adapted, when depressed, to release the plate from the second mentioned tongue.

6. A clasp comprising afront plate having an integrally formed spring member spaced from the front plate and a slot 1o-` cated adjacent its lower end, a clamping member having legs pivotally mounted on the rear face of the front plate and provided with a jaw adapted to project into the slot, said springsV projecting between the legs of the clamping member and means for locking the spring in operative relation with the clampinor member.

7. A clasp comprising a front plate having an integrally formed spring member spaced from the front plate and a slot located adjacent its lower end, a clamping member pivotally mounted on the rear face of the front i plate and provided with a jaw adapted to project into the slot, means engageable with the spring for causing said spring to maintain the jaw in the slot, and means for locking the spring engaging means in operative relation with the spring.

8. A clasp comprising a front plate, a clamping member mounted in bearings spaced from the front plate, a spring projecting from the front plate, and movable through the'V clamping member, means cooperating with the clamping member and the spring and adapted t0 lock the spring and clamping member together for causing the spring to maintain the clamping member in operative relation with the front plate.

HERBERT KEMP SMITH. 

